Cigarette roller



Dec. 9, 1941.V J. H. FULLER CIGARETTE ROLLER Filed March 21, 1940 faQ/M Patented Dec. 9, 1941 CIGARETTE ROLLER James Il. Fuller, University City, Mo., assignor to Marshall D. Gibson, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application March 21, 1940, Serial No. 325,109

(CCI. ISI- 47) Claims.

This invention relates to al hand cigarette roller.

An object of the invention is to provide such a device which will be simple in construction, dura ble in service and efllcient in operation. A particular object of the invention is to provide, in such a device, a pair of rollers with a web connecting the roller and comprising one roller fixed in position and the other movable, with novel means in connection with the movable roller permitting it to be moved from one operate position l to another and yieldingly holding the roller in either of the two positions. Another object is to provide novel means for placing a tension on one of the rollers.

` Other specific objects will be apparent from the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette roller embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a. vertical section on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the. movable roller, however, in a different operative position; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section o`n line 4-4, Fig. 1.

A cigarette roller embodying this invention, as specifically illustrated, includes a frame, casing or trough I, having parallel side members 2, a fixed roller 3, a second roller 4 connected to the roller 3 by a web 5, the roller 4 being yieldingly held in either of two positions on the side members 2.V A groove, 6 on the inner face of each of the side members 2 has sockets 'l and 8 at its ends respectively to accommodate pivots 9 and I0, extending from the ends of the roller 4. The pivot I0 is spring pressed to provide a tension between the ends of the pivots and the walls of the sockets.

The frame includes integrally a bottom wall I I, a rear wall I2, side walls or members 2, and an abbreviated front wall I3. The front wall I3 is abbreviated to permit easy manipulation oi the roller 4. In moving the roller .4 from position to position, the frame may be flexed, which in some cases causes the frame to break at a median point beginning at the top of the abbreviated wall I3. To avoid this difculty the wall is strengthened by adding the projecting bib I4. l

The frame or trough I is preferably of yielding or resilient material, and this is secured when it is molded from a plastic. Satisfactory results have been obtained by using a trough or frame of this character with the use of fixed pivots 9 and I0 on the roller 4. Suilicient elasticity can be obtained in the frame to secure proper tension of the pivots 9 and I0 when iixed with respect to the roller. The larrangement of a spring pressed pivot II! is preferred, however, Iand constitutes a substantial improvement in the device because it is then not necessary to have a flexible frame, or depend upon the flexibility of the frame.

In constructing the frame I a lug- IS is formed integral with one of the side members 2 and fits within a socket I in one end of the roller 3. thereby forming a pivot for one end of the roller 3. The pivot for the other end of the roller 3 is formed by a pin il having a knurled head I8 and projecting through a. hole in the side member 2 and into a socket I9 in an end of the roller. A rubber washer 20 is positioned between the other .face of the member 2 and the inner face of the head I8, thus providing tension for the roller 3. The pin Il is splined so that it is xed with respect to the roller 3, whereby this roller may be turned by manipulating the head I8.

The roller d has a fixed pivot 9 and a spring pressed pivot III, as previously mentioned. The pivot I@ loosely fits in an axial socket 2 I a, spring 22 being positioned at the bottom of the socket and against the inner end of the pivot.

To operate the device, the roller 4 is positioned outwardly, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, with the web 5 suspended loosely, as best shown in Fig. 2, between the rollers 3 andv 4. Tobacco T is then placed on the web 6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After the tobacco has been spread evenly along the web the roller 4 is moved inwardly so that its pivots engage in the sockets 8. In performing this operation it is necessary only to push the roller with the thumb or finger to remove the pivots from the' sockets I and along the groove 3 into the sockets 8. After the roller 4 has been moved backwardlyso that it is adjacent the roller 3, and in the position shown in Fig. 3. the roller 3 is then turned clockwise to give the tobacco the proper compression. This operation is assisted by the tension, heretofore described, of the roller 4. After the roller 4 has been turned suiiciently to properly compress the tobacco,a paper P is inserted, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper edge of this paper is moistened, and the roller 3 is turned further to completely roll the cigarette. The roller 4 is then moved to its forward position and the cigarette is ejected completely rolled.

The tension or compression between the roller 4 and the frame I may be obtained in either of the two ways: by inherent resiliency in the frame I, by resiliency of a pivot for the roller or by a combination of the two. In a hunted sense, when the force is applied by the resiliency of the frame,

it is a compression; when applied by the resiliency of the pivot it is a tension. It will be understood, however, that tension as used herein is intended broadly to apply to eitheriorce or a combination of the two. This tension does three things: it gives the proper compression to the tobacco regardless of amount used by regulating the drag on the web when the roller 3 is turned;

' It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that the invention accomplishes its objects. Various changes may be made inthe details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A cigarette roller comprising a resilient frame having parallel side members, a roller having its ends Divoted in said side members in fixed position, the side members having on their inner faces grooves respectively with a socket at each encll thereof, a second roller having pivots extending from its ends, mounted in the grooves and adapted to be yieldingly .positioned in the sockets by the resiliency of the frame, and a web connecting said rollers.

2. A cigarette roller comprising a frame having parallel side members, a roller having its ends pivoted in said members in fixed position, the side members having on their inner faces grooves respectively with a socket at each end thereof, a second roller havingplvots extending from its ends, mounted in the grooves and adapted to be yieldingly positioned in the sockets, and

a web connecting said rollers, tlie second roller.

and its pivots and the frame being so constructed and arranged as to provide a tension between the ends of the pivots and walls of the sockets.

3. A cigarette roller having a casingv comprising a bottom wall, a side wall, and end walls, the end walls having grooves-on their inner faces respectively with a socket at each end oi.' the groove, a roller pivotally mounted in xed position on the end walls and adjacent the side wall, a second roller having Diyots extending from the ends thereof mounted in the grooves and adapted to be yieldingly positioned in the sockets, and a web connecting said rollers, the second roller and its pivots and the casing being so' constructed and arranged as to provide a tension between the ends of the pivots and walls of the sockets.

4. In a cigarette roller a frame, a fixed roller pivotally mounted on the frame, a second roller adapted to be pivotally mounted in either of two positions on the frame, and a web connecting the rollers, the improvement comprising a pair of end members on the frame for pivotally supporting the second roller having grooves with a socket at each end of each groove, pivots on the ends of said second roller, and resilient means interposed between one of said pivots and its roller, the pivots engaging selectively in said sockets in the end members.

5. Ina cigarette roller a frame, a fixed roller pivotally mounted on the frame, a second roller adapted to be pivotally mounted in either of two positions on the frame, and a web connecting the rollers, the improvement comprising a pair of end members on the frame for pivotally supporting the second roller having grooves with a socket at each end of each groove, a pivot fixed toone end of the second roller, a compressible spring inserted in an axial socket in the other end of said roller, and a pivot having an end inserted in said socket against the spring, the said pivots engaging selectively in said sockets in the end m'embers.

JAMES H. FULLER. 

